Minerva Youth Theatre
So... I hear you ask, what is Youth Theatre??
A good question! For us at Minerva Arts, Youth Theatre is drama/ theatre/ performance activity for young people that...
*Takes place outside of school (in theatres, community centres, youth clubs, fields, anywhere!)
*Enables young people to make their own theatre focusing on themes and issues that are important/ relevant to them (from bullying and LGBT issues to Harry Potter!)
*Provides a space to develop their confidence, self-esteem, sense of self and general awesomeness
*Encourages young people to take the lead and learn about the arts in a holistic way (fancy way of saying that they can do loads of stuff that's not just on the stage)
From a practical perspective, all our groups meet once a week in term time and take part in skills building sessions. Each group usually creates a new piece of theatre per term, these are then shared for parents and friends at a variety of different events, sometime we run them and sometimes we take part in big events in the community. Our activity is paid for by fees which are payable termly, we think our fees are super good value and we offer a range of hefty discounts too.
A good question! For us at Minerva Arts, Youth Theatre is drama/ theatre/ performance activity for young people that...
*Takes place outside of school (in theatres, community centres, youth clubs, fields, anywhere!)
*Enables young people to make their own theatre focusing on themes and issues that are important/ relevant to them (from bullying and LGBT issues to Harry Potter!)
*Provides a space to develop their confidence, self-esteem, sense of self and general awesomeness
*Encourages young people to take the lead and learn about the arts in a holistic way (fancy way of saying that they can do loads of stuff that's not just on the stage)
From a practical perspective, all our groups meet once a week in term time and take part in skills building sessions. Each group usually creates a new piece of theatre per term, these are then shared for parents and friends at a variety of different events, sometime we run them and sometimes we take part in big events in the community. Our activity is paid for by fees which are payable termly, we think our fees are super good value and we offer a range of hefty discounts too.
Arts Award
We have been running Arts Award since 2011 and awarded some of the first Gold Awards in the Cheshire sub-region. Arts Award is an option extra in all of our Youth Theatre groups and can support members to enhance their skills, develop their CVs and even help with getting into University with the additional UCAS points that can be achieved with Gold. For more information about Arts Award, check out their website here.
We recently asked some of our former Youth Theatre members to share their stories with us about what they learnt from being at Minerva Youth Theatre. You can read them below...
We have been running Arts Award since 2011 and awarded some of the first Gold Awards in the Cheshire sub-region. Arts Award is an option extra in all of our Youth Theatre groups and can support members to enhance their skills, develop their CVs and even help with getting into University with the additional UCAS points that can be achieved with Gold. For more information about Arts Award, check out their website here.
We recently asked some of our former Youth Theatre members to share their stories with us about what they learnt from being at Minerva Youth Theatre. You can read them below...
Middlewich Youth Theatre |
Malpas Youth Theatre |
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Please contact [email protected] for further information on this group.
Middlewich Youth Theatre is a brand new addition to the portfolio for 2021. The group is being established after a previous youth theatre had to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Tuesday evenings at Middlewich Community Centre 6 Queen St, Middlewich CW10 9AR. This group is run by Jack and Amy. |
Our Malpas Youth Theatre was set up in May 2015 after a consultation to establish demand in the area after the Arts in the Villages Project in 2013. It has since gone from strength to strength
This group is open to all young people between the ages of 7 and 18 and is now split into two groups. We meet every Monday in term-time, 6-8pm at the Malpas Young Person's Centre, Chester Road, Malpas, SY14 8HT. This group is run by Ellen. |
Sandbach Youth TheatrePlease contact [email protected] for further information on this group.
Our first Youth Theatre group in Cheshire East will be in Sandbach taking over the reigns from the former Cheshire East Youth Theatre group. This group meets at Sandbach Library, The Commons, Sandbach, CW11 1FJ. The group runs Wednesdays, 6-7.30pm throughout term time is is open to anyone aged 8-13. This group is run by Jack and Amy. 
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Lache Youth Theatre
We were approached to pilot a group in Lache in Summer 2018 and was huge success so we just carried on!
This group runs Thursday evenings 5-7pm at The Venue, Lache Community Centre and is open to anyone aged 8-18. This group is run by Ellen. Upton Youth Theatre
After some pilot activity in Summer 2018 we were able to set up a brand new group in Upton, serving the local community in this village close to Chester City Centre. This group is for 7-12 year olds.
This group is based at Upton Pavillion and meets every Friday, 5.30-7.30pm. This group is run by Jude. |
Sandymoor Youth Theatre and Minis
This group has now transitioned to Roscoe's Rolecall! Visit their Instagram for more info here https://www.instagram.com/roscoesrolecall/
One of our newest groups, Sandymoor Youth Theatre as set up in September 2021 with the support of Halton's year as Borough of Culture for the Liverpool City Region. The group is open to anyone aged 7-11 and meets on a Thursday in term-time 5.30-7.30pm at Sandymoor Community Hall. We also run a Minis group earlier on Thursdays for children aged 5-7. This group is run by Mandy. |
Will's Minerva Story...
When were you a member of Minerva Youth Theatre?
End of 2011 to end of 2013
What projects did you take part in while you were with us?
Life of Galileo
Against Basic Chorus
Silver Arts Award
Which project was the most enjoyable?
Probably Life Of Galileo, it was a small company then, a lot of the material came from us which spurred me on to be more confident in devising.
What did you learn/ gain from being part of MYT?
MYT was a little more experimental than other youth theatres that I’d been in. I learnt and experimented with movement skills, physical theatre and artistic styles of performance. I remember my first session I found myself rolling around on the ground under an white board, I remember thinking ‘What am I doing?’ It was great, I started to question performance.
What are you doing now?
BA Fine Art at Goldsmiths University
How has working with Minerva helped you to develop or influenced you as an artist/ creative professional?
As I said the experimental side of theatre was really encouraged in MYT. When left Chester I started attending Contact Improvisation classes and experimental performance classes that pushed my vocal and movement skills. MYT was a great platform for my exploration into theatre that I’m interested in now.
Why do you think young people should get involved with MYT?
MYT is very social youth theatre. Not only are you exploring theatre, acting, devising and movement. You get opportunities to see theatre, accomplish Arts Award credentials and invest yourself in local performance.
When were you a member of Minerva Youth Theatre?
End of 2011 to end of 2013
What projects did you take part in while you were with us?
Life of Galileo
Against Basic Chorus
Silver Arts Award
Which project was the most enjoyable?
Probably Life Of Galileo, it was a small company then, a lot of the material came from us which spurred me on to be more confident in devising.
What did you learn/ gain from being part of MYT?
MYT was a little more experimental than other youth theatres that I’d been in. I learnt and experimented with movement skills, physical theatre and artistic styles of performance. I remember my first session I found myself rolling around on the ground under an white board, I remember thinking ‘What am I doing?’ It was great, I started to question performance.
What are you doing now?
BA Fine Art at Goldsmiths University
How has working with Minerva helped you to develop or influenced you as an artist/ creative professional?
As I said the experimental side of theatre was really encouraged in MYT. When left Chester I started attending Contact Improvisation classes and experimental performance classes that pushed my vocal and movement skills. MYT was a great platform for my exploration into theatre that I’m interested in now.
Why do you think young people should get involved with MYT?
MYT is very social youth theatre. Not only are you exploring theatre, acting, devising and movement. You get opportunities to see theatre, accomplish Arts Award credentials and invest yourself in local performance.
Marissa's Minerva Story
When were you a member of Minerva Youth Theatre?
I believe it was from 2012-2013
What projects did you take part in while you were with us?
I was trying to complete the Silver Arts Award, which involved a theatre review, devising and a performance. Alongside this, each class had a different activity or technique to discover.
Which project was the most enjoyable?
I have to go for the obvious option that preparing for the performance was the most enjoyable.
What did you learn/ gain from being part of MYT?
I learnt that sometimes creativity really should come from a collective, rather than just an individual, as sometimes 10 minds are better than just 1.
What are you doing now?
I am currently studying Drama BA at Queen Mary University of London
How has working with Minerva helped you to develop or influenced you as an artist/ creative professional?
At the time when I joined Minerva, I had very little experience in working on drama projects as such. I believe that it helped me really understand what type of things I could get involved in, in theatre specifically. I would not have accessed this from my school, that didn’t offer drama.
Why do you think young people should get involved with MYT?
It’s a place where you can create friendships and simply feel comfortable, which is essential in a creative environment. It helps younger people to realise what theatre has to offer.
When were you a member of Minerva Youth Theatre?
I believe it was from 2012-2013
What projects did you take part in while you were with us?
I was trying to complete the Silver Arts Award, which involved a theatre review, devising and a performance. Alongside this, each class had a different activity or technique to discover.
Which project was the most enjoyable?
I have to go for the obvious option that preparing for the performance was the most enjoyable.
What did you learn/ gain from being part of MYT?
I learnt that sometimes creativity really should come from a collective, rather than just an individual, as sometimes 10 minds are better than just 1.
What are you doing now?
I am currently studying Drama BA at Queen Mary University of London
How has working with Minerva helped you to develop or influenced you as an artist/ creative professional?
At the time when I joined Minerva, I had very little experience in working on drama projects as such. I believe that it helped me really understand what type of things I could get involved in, in theatre specifically. I would not have accessed this from my school, that didn’t offer drama.
Why do you think young people should get involved with MYT?
It’s a place where you can create friendships and simply feel comfortable, which is essential in a creative environment. It helps younger people to realise what theatre has to offer.
